PIONEER NAT RES - CORA 21-19 Gas Extraction Facility, Cokedale, Colorado

PIONEER NAT RES - CORA 21-19 is a gas extraction facility situated approximately 5.2 miles west of Cokedale, Colorado, in Las Animas County. The facility is operational and falls under the Gas Extraction sector, with NAICS codes 211111 (Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction) and 211130 (Natural Gas Liquid Extraction). Its location in the Raton Basin, a region known for coalbed methane production, places it within a historically active gas-producing area. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Department of Transportation's 49 CFR Part 192, which governs natural gas pipeline safety. As a gas extraction site, it likely employs standard drilling and completion techniques common to the region, including hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, to access natural gas reserves. The specific capacity of the facility is not detailed, but typical gas extraction operations in Colorado range from small-scale wells to larger multi-well pads. Environmentally, the facility is situated in a semi-arid region with low population density, reducing immediate community exposure risks. However, gas extraction activities can impact local air quality through emissions of volatile organic compounds and methane. The facility's proximity to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area underscores the importance of adherence to state and federal environmental regulations to minimize ecological disruption.

The facility is located in a semi-arid region of southeastern Colorado, characterized by grasslands and piñon-juniper woodlands. Gas extraction operations in this area can contribute to air emissions, including methane and volatile organic compounds, and may affect local water resources through hydraulic fracturing activities. The region's low population density reduces direct human exposure, but wildlife habitats in nearby mountainous areas require careful management to mitigate ecological impacts.